Apple has developed a large language model specifically for the Chinese market in partnership with Alibaba Group, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The AI model was trained with the help of the Chinese tech giant.
Apple has previously relied heavily on domestic partner models, such as Ernie and Doubao, to bring generative AI to iPhones and other devices sold in China. US models, such as Claude and ChatGPT, are not available in China. The company pairs the US models with the technology in its own markets.
The tech giant would be the first foreign company approved by Beijing to supply its own AI models to China. The move would allow the iPhone maker to bypass China’s strict regulatory barriers that have limited access for many other US tech companies.
In July, the country’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), registered the company’s generative AI service, paving the way for Apple intelligence to reach iPhones sold in China for the first time.
Reuters reported in the same month that under the deal, Alibaba’s Qwen model would be included in the version of Apple Intelligence that comes with compatible iPhones, iPads, Macs and Vision Pro models in China, and the service was also expected to incorporate technology from Baidu, known for its search engine and AI.
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